Examples of clinical concerns often seen in this office include:

• Depression and self-esteem concerns

• Anxiety disorders

• Habit and tic disorders

• Adjustment difficulties (divorce, grief/loss, chronic health issues, life transitions)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Toileting problems

• Sleeping difficulties

• Management of pain conditions (migraines, Gl)

• Autism spectrum disorders

• Social relationship difficulties

• Parent-child communication problems

• School and learning problems

• General parenting and behavioral concerns

• Diagnostic evaluations to clarify diagnoses and establish treatment recommendations

The first appointment is an information gathering session and will last approximately 60-90 min. Information about specific concerns you have for your child or adolescent will be discussed. A plan and specific goals for follow-up visits will be reviewed. As needed, we will help you determine if any further psychological assessment/testing would be helpful to gain increased knowledge about your child and plan for care. In some cases initial recommendations may be made during this visit. Typically during the first visit a portion of the session time is spent with the parent alone and a portion with the child/adolescent alone so that families can speak freely and most comfortably with the provider to express their concerns and goals for treatment.

The number of clinic visits varies greatly depending on the nature and severity of concerns presented. In some cases only a few sessions are needed, but in others regular visits may be important for improvement in concerns. We will provide you with a rough estimate of the number of anticipated sessions at the end of the initial appointment. We will work with you as best we can to help determine a plan for care that is reasonable with regard to your financial and time constraints, as well as your goals for services.

Mental health care is a normal and beneficial part of overall health care. There can be significant benefits of psychotherapy for individuals young and old no matter how small the challenges. Learning tools for managing stress, worry, and mood can be an invaluable gift for many kids. Seeking mental health consultation and support could be especially warranted if you observe a change in your child's social, behavioral, emotional, or academic performance that feels significant and is negatively impacting his/her life or your families' functioning. If you have questions about whether or not to schedule, feel free to call or send an email query and we can respond with some helpful guidance.

It is typical for us to meet with you alone, without your child present, for a part of the initial (or subsequent) appointments. Children will play in a nearby room or wait in the waiting room for a portion of the initial visit so that parents can speak candidly to the provider. In some cases when helpful, an entire appointment can be made for parents to meet alone with the provider without child present. This can be discussed with your provider during the initial visit.

Mental health services are covered vary differently among insurance plans. Everyone's insurance plan is different. If you have questions about your particular coverage call the phone number on the back of your insurance card. See Financial Policies section for specific questions to ask when calling.

It is important to call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask about your out-of-network benefits. See Financial Policies section for specific questions to ask when calling. For some individuals there may be a significant deductible on their mental health benefits for an in-network provider such that the cost to see an in-network provider is comparable to the cost for an out-of-network provider. You can always use health savings or flex accounts to pay for services in this clinic as well.